Air-conditioning apparatus



Dec. 23, 1947. A. H. EBERHART AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1944 Li -i8 54. ea 0 r WITNESSES: giwrflwo z Patented Dec. 23, 1947 AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS Arthur H. Eberhart, Springfield, Masa, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 24, 1944, Serial No. 541,684

2 Claims. (CI. 98-94) My invention relates to an air conditioning unit of the type adapted to be mounted on the sill of a window, with'one end of the unit facing the room and the other end thereof facing the outside atmosphere.

One object oi my invention is to produce improved means for mounting an air conditioning unit in a window.

The type of window structure for which the will rigidly engage the air conditioning unit andportions of the opposite walls of the sash grooves substantially coextensively with the height of the unit. This serves to distribute the strain resulting from the tilting movement of the unit, and any shock or impact incidental to the installation of the unit in the window, over a large area so as to prevent damage to the sash groove strips and to guard against the possibility of such strips breaking and allowing the unit to fall out the window or into the room according to the direction in which the tilting moment is exerted.

A still further object of my invention is to produce an improved mounting for an air conditioning unit which coacts with the window structure to produce a, satisfactory weather-proof joint between the unit and the window structure.

A still further object of my invention is to produce improved mounting means which will be adjustable for use in windows having openings or sash grooves of different sizes and which will be inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install.

These and other objects are efiected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, looking from outside of the window, showing the improved mounting means embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through one of the jambs of the window, showing the mounting means engaging the sash grooves;

Fig. 3 is a section through the bottom sill of a window and the bottom of the air conditioning unit casing; and

18 formed in the lambs ll.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the top of the air conditioning unit casing and a, lower portion of the window sash resting thereon.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a casing ill mounted on the sill I! of a window having jambs I4 and a sash movable vertically in opposite sash grooves The sash grooves ll are formed by outer strips 20 and an intermediate strip, 22 which are secured to, or are integral with, the jambs l4 and which constitute'opposlte walls of said grooves.

The casing I0 may be that of a completely preassembled and self-contained, window-mounted air conditioning or ventilating unit, or it may be in the nature of a shell forming part of the mounting means and into which preassembled air conditioning machinery may be inserted somewhat along the lines disclosed in Woliert Patent No. 2,335,627.

When the casing I0 is placed on the window sill, a portion 24 thereof will extend into the room and the opposite portion 26 thereof will extend into the outside atmosphere. The casing in is formed of atop wall 28, a bottom wall 30 and sidewalls 32, and may be secured to the sill l2 of the window by means of clamps, diagonal braces, or the like which do not form part of the invention and hence are neither shown nor described.

Due to the fact that-the center of gravity of the casing ill, or of the air conditioning unit housed therein, may not coincide with the center of the window sill and, due to the fact that the window sill is usually narrow as compared with the length of th casing, there usually is a tilting moment, which, if not resisted, will cause the unit to fall out the window, or into the room, depending upon the center of gravity of the unit.

In order to distribute the tilting moment over as large a support surface as possible, I have devised improved mounting means which rigidly engage the casing .i 0 and a relatively large surface of the sash grooves Hi. My improved mounting means are further adapted to engage the sash grooves without the use of nails, screws or the like and are readily adjustable for use in connection with windows of diflerent sizes and sash grooves of diiferent widths.

The mounting means embodying my invention includes U-shaped brackets, each of which comprises a vertically-extending bight portion 34 adapted to engage a corresponding portion of a sash groove in the adjacent jamb of the window, and upper and lower horizontally-disposed limbs 36 and 38 adapted to engage the top and bottom walls of the casing l8. The upper and lower limbs 38 and 38, which will hereinafter be further referred to, include flat portions 48 and 4| and vertical flanges 42 and 44, respectively.

Each of the bight portions 34 is provided with horizontally spacedr vertically-extending flanges 48 and 48 which are adapted to enter the sash grooves l8 and to abut against the opposite walls or strips 22 and 28 of the sash grooves. It willbe noted that the flanges 48 and 48 extend sub stantially the entire height of the casing I8 so that they will engage corresponding portions of the strips 22 and 28, thereby distributing the strain caused by the tilting movement of the unit, or any impact incidental to the mounting of the unit, over a relatively large area of the grooveforming strips 22 and 28. In order to be able to adjust the flanges 48 and 48 to sash grooves of different widths, the flanges 48 and 48 are adjustably secured to the bight portions 34. As shown. the flanges 48 are flxed, and the flanges 48 are carried by strips 88 which are secured to the bight portion 34 by bolts or the like 82 engaging horizontal slots 54 in the bight portions 34. By loosening the bolts 82 and moving the strips 88, toward or away from theflxed flanges 48, the space between the flanges 48 and 48 may be varied according to the width of the groove l8 between the walls 28 and 22.

In order to accommodate window openings of different sizes, the U-shaped brackets are mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the casing l8 and of the window opening. This is accomplished by providing the horizontal limbs 38 and 38 of the U-shaped brackets with horizontal slots 58 extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to engage bolts or the like 88 which arg flxed with respect to the casing l8. When it is desired to ad- Just the mounting means to fit a particular window opening, the bolts 88 engaging the slots 88 are loosened and the' U-shaped brackets are moved toward or away from each other until they assume a position in which the bight portions 34 engage the sash grooves i8 in the opposite lambs i4 of the window. The bolts 88 are then tightened to retain the U-shaped brackets in the desired adjusted position. The lengths of the limbs 38 and 38, the length, number and spacing of the slots 88, the number and spacing of the bolts 58 and the length of the casing l8 are such that the limbs 38 and 38 will, throughout their entire range of adjustment, be secured to the casing i8 by two bolts 88 engaging each of the limbs 38 and 38. This prevents pivoting of the U-shaped brackets with respect to the casing.

To be adjustable as above described, the total length of the oppositely-disposed U-shaped brackets is less than the width of the average window opening so that a gap is left between the juxtaposed inner ends 88 of the upper and lower horizontal limbs 38 and 38 of the U-shaped brackets. Also, the length of the casing I8 is such that the gap referred to is always less than the width of the casing. In order to close this gap, I provide the top and bottom walls 28 and 38 of the casing with oppositely-facing upper and lower channel members which coact with the flanges 42 and 44 of the limbs 38 and 38 to close said gap.

Each of the upper channel members includes a flat portion 82, a. vertical, relatively high flange 84 on the room side thereof and a relatively low vertical flange 88 on the opposite or outside side thereof. The flat portions 82 and the flanges 84 and 88 form a trough for receiving and guiding 4 the upper limbs 38 of the U-shaped bracket members, as shown in Fig. 4. Similarly, each of the lower channel members includes a flat portion 88. a vertical relatively high flange 18 on the room side thereof and a vertical relatively low flange 12 on the opposite or outside side thereof. The flat portion 88 and the flanges I8 and I2 provide an inverted trough for receiving and guiding the lower horizontal limbs 38 of the U-shaped brackets. The upper and lower channel members are preferably coextensive with the length of the casing and the flat portions 82 and 88 thereof are suitably secured in a substantially airtight manner to the top and bottom walls oi the casing as by spot welding or the like.

When assembled as shown in Fig.1, the flanges 42 and 44 of the upper and lower horizontal limbs 38 and 38 abut against the flanges 84 and 18 of the channel members and the gap between the ends 88 of the upper and lower limbs 38 and 38 is at all times closed by the flanges 84 and 18. The bolts 58 which engage the slots 88 in theflat portions 48 and 4| of the limbs 38 and 38 pass through and engage the top and bottom walls of the casing [8. As shown in Fig. 4, the channel members are made of relatively thin sheet metal, but the U-shaped brackets, which must resist the tilting moment, are made of heavy stock possess ing suflicientrigidity.

In order to close such spaces as may be left between the opposite side walls 32 of the casing and the adjacent window lambs I4, I use flller pieces I4 which are secured by bolts or the like I8 to flanges 18 carried by or formed integrally with strips 88 secured to the side walls 32 of the casing in a substantially airtight manner. The marginal portions of th flller pieces I4 remote from the side walls of the casing are clamped in position between the fixed flanges 48 of the bight portions 34 and the adjacent walls or strips 28 of the sash grooves l8, as shown in Fig. 2. The flller pieces I4 are of the same thickness as the flanges 84 and I8 against which they abut as at 82.

. As will be seen from Fig. 3, the flanges I8 oi the bottom channel members and the flanges 44 of the lower horizontal limbs 38 abut against a ledge or riser 84 which usually forms part of the sill of the window structure illustrated.

In order to provide a substantially airtight junction between the top of the casing l8 and the bottom edge of the window sash l8, a gasket 88, extending the entire length of the window opening including the depth of the opposite sash grooves I 8, is employed. The upper portion of the gasket is recessed longitudinally to. form a shoulder or a seat 88 for the bottom edge of the sash. When the sash rests on the seat 88, it abuts against and overlaps the upper portion of the gasket as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The gasket is provided with an internal vertical groove having a relatively wide lower portion 82 and a relatively narrow upper portion 84. The lower portion 82 of the groove is wide enough to engage the flanges 42 of the upper limbs 38 and the abutting portions of the flange 84 and filler pieces 14. The upper narrow portion 84 of the groove engages the portion of the flange 84 and the portions of the filler pieces 14 which extend above the top edges of the flanges 42, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. By this means the gasket is adequately supported along its entire length, including the portion thereof which coincides with the gap between the ends 88 of th U-shaped brackets.

, Assembly The casing ill to be mounted on the window sill i2 is equipped with the upper and lower channel members, the flat portions 62 and 38 of which are secured in an airtight manner to the top and bottom walls," and 30 of the casing. The U-shaped brackets, are loosely secured to the casing in, the casing is placed on the window sill, and the U-shaped brackets are adjusted so that the flanges l3 and 40 thereof will extend into the opposite sash grooves IS in the opposite window jambs l4. When the U-shaped brackets have been so adjusted, the bolts 50 are tightened rigidly to secure the U-shaped brackets to the casing. The flller pieces I4 are now out to the proper width and, if necessary, to the proper height, and their outer marginal portions are seated in the sash grooves l8 between the flanges 4B and the strips or walls 20. The inner marglnal portions or the filler pieces 14 are then secured by the bolts 13 to the flanges 18 of the strips 80 which are suitably secured to the side walls 32 of the housing in a substantially airtight manner. The strips 50 are now adjusted so as to cause the flanges 48 to abut against the strips or walls 22 of the grooves l8 and the bolts 52 are tightened. The gasket is then cut to size and fltted onto the flanges l2 and 64 and the upper portion of the flller pieces 14, and the sash I6 is lowered onto the seat 88 of the gasket. If

it is found necessary further to counteract tiltingmoment of the unit, conventional angle braces engaging the unit and the window sill or the wall may be used.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Means for mounting an air conditioning unit casing or other enclosure having vertical side walls and a horizontal top wall, in a window having jambs and a sash movable vertically in sash grooves formed in said jambs, said means comprising brackets including vertical portions adapted to engage said grooves and horizontal portions adapted to be secured to said top wall, vertical flanges carried by and coextensive with said horizontal portions, the total length of said horizontal portions being such that, when said vertical portions engage said grooves, a gap is left between the juxtaposed ends of said horizontal portions, a vertical flange carried by the top of said casing and abutting against the vertical flanges oi. said horizontal portions to close said gap, the vertical flange carried by the top of said casing being higher than the flanges carried by said horizontal portions, and a gasket extending substantially the width of the window opening, said gasket having a lower relatively wide slot for engaging the abutting portions of said flanges and an upper relatively narrow slot adapted to engage the upper portion of the flange carried by said casing.

2. Means ior mounting an casing or other enclosure having vertical side walls and horizontal top wall, in a window having-lambs and a sash movable vertically in sash grooves formed in said lambs, said means comprising brackets including vertical portions adapted to engage said grooves, horizontal por tions adapted to be secured to said top wall and vertical flanges carried by said horizontal portions, the total length of said horizontal portions being such that, when said vertical portions engage said grooves, a gap is left between the juxtaposed ends of said horizontal portions, a vertical flange carried by the top of said casing and abutting against the vertical flanges of said horizontal portions to close said gap, said casing being smaller than the opening of said window whereby spaces are left between the vertical side walls of said casing and said lambs, flller pieces for closing said spaces, means for securing said filler pieces to the vertical side walls of said casing, said flller pieces being substantially of the same thickness as the flange carried by the top of said casing and having its upper edge substantially flush with the upper edge of said flange, the upper edge of the flange carried by the top of said casing and the upper edge oi. said flller pieces being higher than the upper edges of the abutting portions of the flanges carried by said horizontal portions, and a gasket extending substantially the width of the window opening, said gasket having a lower relatively wide slot for engaging the abutting portions of said flanges and an upper relatively narrow slot for engaging the upper edges of said filler pieces and the upper edge of the flange carried by the top oi! said casing.

ARTHUR H. EBERHART.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

air conditioning unit Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,433,104. December 23, 1041.-

ARTHUR H. EBERHART It is hereby certified that error appears in the specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: lumn 1, line 24 for the word "movement" read moment; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofice.

SignedandsealedthisOthdayofMarchLD. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant am of PM. 

